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Brexit minister Steve Baker has told Chopper's Brexit Podcast that the UK's odds of succeeding in trade talks with the EU have 'dramatically improved' following Wednesday's joint report from negotiators.

The draft negotiating guidelines for the second phase of talks have been set out and Mr Baker told The Telegraph's Chief Political Correspondent Christopher Hope that they indicated the EU was open to agreeing a 'good quality, deep and special partnership' after Brexit.

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Any transition period should not last longer than the end of December 2020, according to the jointly agreed guidelines.

Mr Baker outlined why he didn't think the loss of Damian Green from Theresa May's cabinet would impact progress towards Brexit, saying that 'I think politicians across Europe, if they're objective about the reality of dealing with flawed human beings, will know that sometimes people have to either resign or be sacked'. He added he thought the PM had dealt with these things in a 'perfectly proper way.'

Also in this week's Christmas Special podcast edition, the Managing Director of British Sugar, Paul Kenward, explains why his company sees Brexit as an opportunity for increased global trade.

Plus, our panel of Telegraph experts looks back on the ups and downs of 2017, and ahead to the next phase of the talks.